Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Clerk Embezzles ₹21 Crore; Buys Luxury Properties & Vehicles | Pixabay
A contractual clerk in the divisional sports department, Harshkumar Kshirsagar, a resident of Beed bypass, is accused of misappropriating Rs 21.59 crore of government funds, purchasing luxury properties and vehicles with the embezzled money. The scam came to light on Sunday during an investigation into financial irregularities.
Hired through Disha Facilities Company, Kshirsagar and fellow contractual clerk Yashoda Shetty were responsible for managing cash entries, receipt books and bank transactions. The government had allocated Rs 59.07 crore to the divisional sports department for the financial year 2023-24, of which Rs 37.71 crore was utilised. The remaining Rs 21.59 crore was allegedly siphoned off by Kshirsagar with Shetty’s assistance.
Kshirsagar reportedly used his computer skills to alter the department’s official email ID by changing a single letter. He then forged a letterhead from the deputy director instructing the bank to release funds to fraudulent accounts.
With the stolen money, Kshirsagar purchased a Rs 1.5 crore 4-BHK flat in the Chikalthana area, a Rs 1.3 crore BMW car, and a Rs 32 lakh BMW motorcycle. Additionally, he bought a 2-BHK flat in his girlfriend’s name. Investigators have also revealed that Rs 27 lakh was transferred to the account of Shetty’s husband, Jeevan Karyappa Vinjda.
Both Shetty and Vinjda are currently in police custody as further investigations continue into the scam.
